You are incorrigible! Serena scrambled to pull down her skirts. Why did you come in here? To get caught?

A little risk adds spice, my love.

He had heard her thoughts. It was so incredibly intimate to speak this way.

And I did think about sinking my fangs into the neck of one of the rutting gentlemen, Drake continued, and giving him the most incredible o.r.g.a.s.m.

You wouldn't!

I would. His laugh rippled over her tingling skin. Would you spank me, then, my love, since I am so naughty?

If I threaten to do it, I will have to. With my charges, I quickly learned that one cannot make an empty threat. Even when I spoke in haste, in anger, in the heat of the moment, I had to follow through with what I said.

Bushes cracked, and she tensed. But the next twig that snapped was farther away. The men had given up their clandestine joining and were escaping back to the house. Unsatisfied, frustrated, and very likely terrified.

Serena refused to allow the chuckle that bubbled in her throat to escape. Who was the vampire they spoke of? You?

I've only been turned for two nights, love. Come with me and I will show you everything.

Tell me now. She truly wanted to flee the garden. She didn't want to be caught by anyone. How many couples had heard her scream? But she stood her ground, ignoring her mussed skirts, her pounding heart.

Drake tucked her arm in his and led her back toward the gate. You are a half vampire, Serena. You are the child of vampire and mortal. The only one ever to be born. And you, my dear, possess power beyond your wildest imagination.

I have no objection if you want to spank me now, Drake teased as he tapped the ceiling and the carriage lurched off. Serena must have been stunned by the news, and he wanted to ease her shock a little.

I knew...I'd hoped that it wasn't true, but now I know it is. She had curled up on the seat opposite-he'd wrapped her cloak around her, for her hands felt like ice.

He frowned. How did you know?

Lord Ashcroft knew. He corresponded with the woman who raised me; he had her send weekly accounts of my progress, and she was to detail any signs that I might be a vampire. She tipped her head back against the squabs.

Drake's heart ached for her. She'd grown up with a woman who'd hated her-how he understood that. She looked so alone, so small and sweet and frightened, that he crossed over beside her, sat down, and wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to promise his eternal protection; instead he joked, Now I know why you bit my neck while you f.u.c.ked me.

A fire burned, like molten silver, in her eyes. You won't shock me with such language, she admonished as she tipped up her nose to look prim. I am well aware that it excites men to speak in such a base way.

Does it? You understand men very well then. Drake grinned. And it wasn't my intention to shock you. You are a vampiress. You have a strong s.e.xual drive-a perfectly healthy s.e.xual drive.

She blushed, and he laughed gently. When she tried to act the prudish governess, it only aroused him more. As a mortal man, born in the stinking slums, he hadn't been worthy to even kiss her pretty hand. But as a vampire, he held power, immeasurable power.

He felt as though he'd finally found where he belonged.

Serena's hair was mussed from her fierce o.r.g.a.s.m. He could taste her most intimate flavors on his tongue. Still rock hard, his c.o.c.k throbbed against his linens. Since becoming vampire, Drake had found his erections harder, immensely larger, and more insistent.

"Lord Sommersby is trying to prevent my change. He wants to save me." She spoke aloud, plucking at his black wool cloak, and worried her lip with small, human teeth.

Blast, Sommersby. Drake heard the soft catch in her voice as she said his name. She cared for Sommersby. "Sweetheart," he rea.s.sured. "There is nothing to fear in becoming a vampire. I promise you."

"Tell me about my great power."

Sheepishly, he smiled again. "I do not know very much, love-only that you are supposed to have power equal to the strongest vampire queens."

"I read about them. Some can send mortals to different times, to unknown dimensions. Some can change weather and can unleash power that could destroy a city." She shuddered. "I am not certain I want that responsibility."

"Serena, you are a queen among vampires-don't be frightened of what you are."

"You admit you don't even know what I am. Yes, I am frightened." Large, beseeching, her eyes held on him. "Do you know who my parents were? Who my father was? Did he attack my mother? But he couldn't have killed her. I wouldn't have been born. Is there a chance she is still alive?"

"I do not know yet, Serena."

"Yet?"

"I'm trying to build Lukos's trust in me. To learn more about you from him. He destroyed his last disciple and he's not ready yet to believe in me."

"His last disciple? Do you mean Roman?"

Drake nodded.

"So he knew, then, that Roman was betraying him." Sadness touched her eyes. "I almost feel sorry for horrible Roman-his greed saved my life."

Drake brushed a kiss to the top of her head, to her gleaming black hair.

"What about Lukos?" she asked. "What do you know about him?"

"Lukos sat at the devil's right hand. He was a powerful demon, and he needs a mate. It is his intention to breed a stronger race. A race that could destroy both humans and vampires. He needs your power."

She ran her fingers through her hair, brutally tugging the strands. "Lukos thinks he can breed me? I don't believe it. This is all completely mad."

He cradled her close, stroking her back. "You are an admirable woman. Any other woman would have swooned. Or been hysterical."

"Give me some time," she muttered, "and I might provide you with both."

"You have nothing to fear, Serena. Lukos cannot touch you, and then you will change. After that, you will have incredible strength."

"After I change! You mean to turn me!"

"All Hallow's Eve, love. Your birthday."

"But that isn't-" A tear welled in her eye. "Ashcroft lied about my birthday, I suppose. He told me it was in late November. The rotten man even stole that from me. And I am going to change and there's nothing I can do about it!" Her voice rose. "They know everything about me? How?"

"I don't know. All I know is what I've told you." Gently, he brushed his knuckles along her bare neck. Serena gave a gasp. He lifted her fingers to his throat.

"Where are you taking me?"

My home. The rooms I now live in-where I pretend to be a mortal gentleman.

Drake groaned as she traced her fingers along his throat, as she ran her fingertips along his carotid artery. You will start to feel the change as your birthday nears. Your transformation will be more intense than mine. I want to help you. Protect you.

He gave a wicked grin. And I want to indulge in a lot of raw, wild, sweaty, sticky s.e.x.

"And how will being tied up help me to discover who I really am? How do ropes and bindings free me to find the truth?" Serena could not resist crossing over to the enormous bed that dominated Drake's bedchamber. He had brought her back to the rooms he rented on St. James Street.

With her hand on the thick, gilded column, she peered down at the jumble of silken ropes. "I don't want to be tied up. I was bound once before-I did not like it."

From behind her, Drake's sensual baritone whispered through the warm, quiet bedchamber. "You trust me, little lark. In your soul, you know you can trust me." His fingers slid down the line of b.u.t.tons that followed the curve of her spine. The b.u.t.tons popped open. Down, down, toward the small of her back. Her dress loosened, the sides dropped open. His soft breathing surrounded her.

Nervously, she asked, "If I am a vampiress, will I be attacking you in your sleep to steal your precious seed?"

"Is that a promise?" He laughed, and reminded, "We will hunt together, in the night."

She gulped. She didn't want to become a vampire! Not even for Drake. But could she escape her destiny?

"Not all vampires are demons, love," he murmured. "I've fed once already and gave only pleasure to the woman who offered her blood. She slept, awoke healthy, hearty, and very sated. When you change, there will be many handsome men who will clamor to have you drink from them."

Her heart gave a twinge as, madly, she thought of Jonathon.

"My turn to undress. Watch closely."

She did, but in a heartbeat his clothes simply tumbled to the floor. Empty. Blinking, Serena dropped to her knees in her gaping dress and grabbed at them. She lifted his empty shirt. He'd vanished before her eyes. She hadn't seen it happen.

A black shape swooped and circled tightly, taking care not to come near enough to collide. Only moonlight lit the room, and she strained to get a closer look before he glided into deeper shadow.

"Drake!" Serena called his name sternly, as a governess would. "I demand that you show yourself at once."

The bat hovered in front of her, and she watched carefully. She wanted to see how this could be done. One instant the bat beat its enormous wings, the next Drake Swift stood before her, his hair and eyes as silver as moonbeams. His arms crossed in front of his naked chest. Around him, on the floor, lay his discarded clothes.

She had never seen him completely...naked. He was absolutely perfect, and he winked.

"How do you shift shape?"

When it's time, you will learn. But feel free to touch me.

Need thrummed in her, controlled her. Her cunny ached for him. Her fingers itched to feel the rough and the smooth of his skin, itched to dally in the hollows of his sleek haunches, to stroke his belly, to curl around his c.o.c.k. Unable to stop herself, she reached out. His hand met hers partway. He slid his fingers between hers and drew her into a kiss-into a l.u.s.ty open-mouthed play of mouths, a duel of tongues. His tongue slid into her mouth, filling hers with his warmth, his taste.

He tasted of berries and sweetness, not blood. There was a trace of smokiness-a cheroot, perhaps. The tang of alcohol. It was like kissing an ordinary man- No, there was nothing ordinary about kissing Drake Swift.

He broke the kiss, and her gown spilled to the floor-he'd pushed it down her hips. Drawing his fingers through her hair, he pulled the pins out. The weight of her hair fell down her back. Now the corset, he whispered. He yanked the knot free easily, expertly loosened the laces. There is nothing more seductive than undressing a woman.

His gaze slid down to her bared b.r.e.a.s.t.s, the nipples hardening before his eyes. Then he looked down to her wide curve of hips, to the black curls at her crotch, to her generous thighs. Her body was silver-white in the moonlight, her nether curls as blue-black as the night sky, Exquisite. Beautiful, he said.

Mine.

He paced to the bed, and she watched, breathless, as he lifted a coil of rope from the bed. Drake let the length of it slither down from his palm. The pleasure of rope work is in the antic.i.p.ation.

Serena glanced at the shadowed paintings on the wall, each depicting a young lady bound and aroused-and felt her eyes widen. What a choice for decor! The painted ladies' nipples jutted out and their heads tipped back in submissive pleasure.

This was different that being a captive. This was play, and it aroused her.

She stood with her hands over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She felt she needed some attempt at modesty, even though she wanted this. Her breath came in desperate pants as Drake lowered to his knees before her. The first rope brushed against her bare ankle-she'd grown up in a world where it was scandalous for a lady to show her ankle. She had to shut her eyes at the pure pleasure spiraling through her body-the ropes were fashioned from a material that was smooth but braided, which teased her skin.

Drake tied the end of the rope around her ankle with a st.u.r.dy knot. The rope bit lightly into her skin. Serena stiffened as he bent to her other leg. He would tie her ankles together, trapping her- Instead, he picked up a second rope and slid this around her ankle the same way. Now two lengths of rope trailed from her legs across the floor. To the first leg, he wrapped a second rope around the loop of the first, and then he began entwining the ropes around her legs.

Oh, it excited her so-the brush of the rope, the pressure of the binding. It looked so erotic to see her legs crisscrossed by black ropes.

He looked up, smiled. She knew why-to rea.s.sure her, to share the moment of trust and intimacy.

Firelight reflected in his silvery eyes as he touched the rope to her wet nether lips. His eyes were like mirrors; she could see the shadowy shape of her face in them-she couldn't guess at his thoughts.

You are soaking the rope. He sawed it lightly between her legs. Oh! It pushed up between her nether lips, opening her. Her juices drenched her curls, her thighs.

Serena saw Drake wrap the ropes around his wrists and caught her breath. The black length wound and wound, imprisoning him as it pleasured her. He lifted-the rope rasped, ignited her c.l.i.t like a lit fuse reaching a cannon's gunpowder.

Before she could even moan, the climax burst. Her legs went weak-the sawing rope held her up. It sparked another o.r.g.a.s.m at the end of the first. Then another. She just kept coming-and she desperately grabbed the bedpost for support.

Drake unwound his wrists and let the rope drop from between her legs.

Oh! She gasped. I didn't think I could come again without dying.

Rich, throaty, his raw, masculine laugh shimmered through her. She'd spoken in his thoughts. He'd heard her.

He took the rope, sopping with her honey, and tied her wrists together. She was too weak with pleasure to resist. Holding the rope, he led her like a prize mare to the center of the room. He stretched, up on his toes, and threaded the rope through an eyelet hook. He was going to suspend her from the ceiling?

No!

Yes-you will enjoy.

Pulling the rope, he lifted her arms. He didn't lift her off her toes, thank heavens, but her arms were held up above her head. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s were lifted, her reddened erect nipples pointing at him.

He brought more rope. Tying the new length to the knots that rode on her hips, he pulled two portions between her thighs. They parted her cunny lips again, ran up between her derriere cheeks-and if she rocked she could tease her c.l.i.t against them.

Don't move. You aren't to come yet.

She was on the brink though and had to hold completely still. Just the slightest rasp to her throbbing, abraded c.l.i.t and she would explode again.

At her belly, Drake threaded ropes between the two that slid between her thighs, tugged up, and she almost squealed. She fought not to come-suddenly understanding the maddening pleasure of trying to hold back. Was this was it was like for Drake? On the brink of o.r.g.a.s.m, but fighting it hard? What exquisite torture it must be for men, when every thrust was a trigger to their release.

Drake paced around behind her, swinging a black rope. The end slapped her bottom, and Serena gasped in shock. It hadn't hit hard, but it had stunned her. He spanked again with the rope, slowly, then waited. She moaned in antic.i.p.ation.

Without warning, his strokes came quickly. He lashed her with the rope. It stung a little but pleasured her intently. She was so close...

With a sudden, fierce motion, Drake slid the rope through the ones between her cheeks, and she hovered, fighting the climax. He tied a knot and pushed it lightly into the puckered entrance to her a.s.s. Heavens, the pain of trying not to give in- He moved swiftly-with a vampire's speed. The ropes encircled her waist. He wrapped her b.r.e.a.s.t.s in the ropes, making a figure eight, squeezing her sensitive bosom.

She licked her lips, ran her tongue over her teeth-she needed something to chew on. Smiling, he obliged her need without a word. He pressed a length of rope between her teeth, wound it around her head. It caught her hair and tugged, yet she loved the pressure. She dabbed at the rope with her tongue, but Drake pinched her nipples, and she bit hard in the rough strands.

She wanted him inside. Rocking her hips, she pushed back, pressing her rear against his groin. His c.o.c.k nudged her steamy, moist cunny. She felt tiny, delicate, almost weightless, and she wanted to be filled. She didn't want him to be gentle.

Drake squeezed her bottom, his hips thrust up, and she was so drenched, so ready, that his c.o.c.k slid easily inside. Up and up until her bottom squashed against his pelvis, and she was full, stretched, and sobbing in pleasure.

His fangs brushed the back of her neck, sending shock and need rippling down her spine. He withdrew, right to the tip, until she whimpered. Please. He thrust back in, so hard their bodies collided, and she cried out with the sheer pleasure of pounding against him. Yes! Mine!